“We will celebrate when the whole House follows suit, and the Senate passes its own counterpart measure. Until then, tuloy ang trabaho para makumbinsi ang ating mga kasama na dapat ipagbawal na ang POGO.”
This was the reaction of anti-gambling advocate and Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante following the House committee on Games and Amusements’ approval of legislation that would prohibit Philippine offshore gambling operators (POGO) from operating in the country.
“The overwhelming evidence tells us that POGOs are a blight on our society, not just China.”
According to Abante, one of the authors of House Bill Number 5082, “exhaustive hearings have been conducted by both chambers of Congress, and the overwhelming evidence tells us that POGOs are a blight on our society, not just China”.
The veteran legislator said that the Philippines should not act as an accomplice to gambling firms that are looking for ways to skirt China’s strict anti-gambling laws.
The pastor and founder of the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church stressed that “evil anywhere is a threat to goodness everywhere… the Philippines must take a stand for morality and aid the efforts of other nations to curtail vices they deem dangerous and harmful to their society”.
“By allowing POGOs to operate in the country, we are abetting a crime, and providing a means for these POGOs to circumvent China’s laws.”
The seasoned lawmaker pointed out that “by allowing POGOs to operate in the country, we are abetting a crime, and providing a means for these POGOs to circumvent China’s laws”.
“How would we feel if another nation did something similar? What if a country allowed child pornography and gave pedophiles a haven in their territory? We would be outraged if that were to happen,” he said.
“I pray my fellow legislators follow the lead of the Games Committee. If we vote with our heads, our hearts, and our consciences, then I am confident we will be able to pass a law banning POGOs once and for all,” Abante concluded.
